Women's Health

Cervical Smears

When your cervical smear is due you will receive a letter from WYCSA informing you to attend the surgery in order for the procedure to be carried out by one of our practice nurses. When you make your appointment please tell the receptionist it is for a smear. About eight weeks after you have had your smear you will receive a letter with your result as a matter of routine. For women with previous normal smear results: aged between 25 and 50, a smear is recommended every 3 years; for those aged between 50 and 65, it is recommended every five years.

Family Planning Advice

We offer a full confidential service during normal surgery hours for patients including young people. This includes IUCD (coil) fitting and contraceptive implant insertions. Please make an appointment to talk to your doctor about these. A good source of contraceptive advice is the Family Planning Association Website.

Are You Planning To Get Pregnant?

If you are planning to get pregnant it is worth seeing your doctor to discuss pre-pregnancy and pregnancy healthcare. This is especially important if you have any medical conditions such as epilepsy or diabetes or you or your partner have any hereditory conditions such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anaemia. If you are trying to get pregnant you should also be taking folic acid 0.4mg daily which helps protect your baby from spina bifida. This can be obtained from the chemist and should be taken until the twelfth week of pregnancy. More information about pre-pregnancy and pregnancy healthcare can be found on the NHS Choices Website.

If You Think You Are Pregnant.

The first step is to confirm that you are pregnant and this can be done by purchasing a home pregnancy kit from your local chemist. If possible before twelve weeks of pregnancy you should make a booking appointment with the Midwife based at the practice by ringing the surgery.

First Appointment With The Midwife.

At your booking appointment with the Midwife (which may last up to 45 minutes) you will be given a Maternity Book, which you keep and take with you when you attend antenatal appointments with either the Doctor, Nurse, Midwife or hospital consultant. The Midwife will discuss your options for delivery, arrange appropriate referrals and provide you with dietary advice. She will also take blood tests and will subsequently discuss the results with you. Whilst you are pregnant and until your baby is one year old you are entitled to free prescriptions and dental treatment. The Midwife will organize for an exemption certificate to be signed and sent off.

During The Pregnancy.

Your maternity book lists when you will be seen by the Midwife, Doctor and hospital through your pregnancy. Should you have any concerns at any other time you can contact your midwife or, if she is not available, make an appointment to see a Doctor during normal surgery hours. At some point during the course of your pregnancy the Health Visitor will meet you to talk to you about her role in your care and about the childhood vaccination programme.

After Your Birth.

After delivery your Midwife will visit you at home to help you and your baby. Following the birth she will visit you on your first day at home. When your baby is five days old she will carry out the Guthrie test (which is a special screening test that the Midwife will give you information about) and at ten days old she will discharge yourself and your baby from her care. Extra visits may be arranged according to need. Your Health Visitor will visit you at home when your baby is between ten and fourteen days old and can advise on feeding, weaning and any family issues you may have. About eight weeks after your birth you should make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss any concerns and also you will be able to discuss your contraceptive requirements.

What is the Morning After Pill?

We prescribe the post coital pill at the practice. Although it is called the "morning after pill", you do not have to take this pill on "the morning after having sex". In reality, it is effective for up to 72 hours after. However it works best if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex. Please tell the receptionist that you need an emergency appointment if you need the 'morning after pill'. You can also buy the morning-after pill at your Pharmacist. See Family Planning Asssociation Website for more information.

NHS Health Check

We are now offering the NHS Health Check at the surgery. If you're aged between 40 and 74 and haven't already been diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or had a stroke, you can arrange your health check by making an appointment at the surgery with one of our practice nurses.